After sitting out Oregon's season-opening win, freshman running back Thomas Tyner will likely make his college debut Saturday at Virginia with some added perspective.Bruce Ely/The Oregonian

EUGENE _ His left ankle healed, it sounds more and more like running back Thomas Tyner will make his much-anticipated debut for Oregon on Saturday at Virginia.

“What I saw from him in practice today, he will be ready to play,’’ running backs coach Gary Campbell said on Monday of the five-star recruit.

As it turns out, Saturday’s game might not be the biggest initiation of Tyner’s young college career.

See, at Oregon, the players and coaches speak often of a “culture” which encompasses the way the players practice, how they conduct themselves and even how they police themselves. It is casually referred to as “the Oregon way.’’

“Often times upperclassmen will put a young guy in his place that has been a really hot player in high school, and say ‘Hey. You are at Oregon now. You have to start all over,’’’ Campbell said. “We encourage it. We tell those guys ‘Don’t be ashamed to tell the guy next to you that ‘Hey, that’s not the Oregon way, that’s not what we do.'’’

The buzz around Eugene is that Tyner last month was given an up-close-and-personal introduction into “the Oregon way’’ in the form of a jarring hit from linebacker Tyson Coleman in practice.

Although it is unclear whether some felt Tyner was being big-headed, or whether some felt he needed to be grounded from his lofty status as one of the biggest recruits in Oregon history, the message left by Coleman’s hit was clear: Respect at Oregon is not earned by how many stars a recruiting service attaches to your name, or how many high school records you have set. At Oregon, respect is earned by work ethic. By results. And by staying humble.

When asked about the hit he put on Tyner in practice, and the message he wanted to send, Coleman looked down to hide a smile, then composed himself.

“No comment,’’ he said.

And when the story was relayed to Campbell, his face showed a knowing smile. Not because he had seen it - he missed several August practices to be with his ailing son who later passed - but because it wouldn’t surprise him.

“I don’t know how much validity that (story) has, but I do know our veteran players will put young players in their place,’’ Campbell said. “Whether it be contact on the field, or whether it be pulling them to the side and verbalizing the need to settle in and earn any accolades that you have.’’

Tyner, who under Oregon’s media policies for true freshmen was allowed to speak for the first time Monday, said too much is being made out of the whole thing.

“If you are talking about Tyson, me and Tyson are cool,’’ Tyner said.

If the Coleman hit in practie was supposed to humble him, he says there wasn’t much to be humbled, an assertion Campbell backed up, saying he has never seen Tyner act like he is a big-shot recruit.

“Everyone who knows me knows I’m not a big-headed dude,’’ Tyner said. “Coming in here, I didn’t put this on myself. I’m coming in as who I am - I’m just a quiet kid; I don’t really say a lot. I was raised well.’’

Ultimately, respect is won on the field, and last week Tyner was held out of Oregon’s 66-3 win over Nicholls as a precaution. He hadn’t practiced enough since hurting his left ankle on Aug. 13, and Campbell said he didn’t want to hurt Tyner’s confidence by playing him without his knowing the gameplan.

Tyner says everything has been an adjustment since he left Aloha High with state records for rushing yards in a season (3,415), touchdowns in a game (10) and yards in a game (643). He also holds the state’s 100-meter record with a time of 10.43. The players are bigger, faster, and the playbook deeper and more complicated.

If some teammates had some preconceived notions because of his blue-chip status, it wouldn’t be the first time it has happened, Campbell said.

The key is how the heralded recruit responds, and the consensus is Tyner knows and understands his place.

“Coming in with the status, they expect you to live up to it,’’ Tyner said of his teammates. “But I knew it was going to take time, and I feel now that we are a couple of months into it, everything is flowing right now, and the older guys are cool.’’

Coleman, a redshirt sophomore, said the older players at Oregon have long policed themselves, making sure everyone on the team adheres to the “the Oregon way.” He would not speak to specific players or instances, saying only that as a group and a team, it was the older players’ job to show how it was done.

“A lot of freshmen come in - big name guys - and they don’t really know what they are getting into from a college football standpoint,’’ Coleman said. “Just because, you know, top recruits have always been the best around. And pretty much everyone who comes in here has been the best around in their high school league. So it’s a different culture once you get here. You have to realize that people are bigger, stronger, and sometimes it’s how much you know that helps you, instead of how fast you can run.’’

On Monday, Tyner said he was 100 percent as he went through the entire practice at full speed inside the Moshofsky Center, which was heated to simulate the humidity the team will face Saturday in Virginia.

“I enjoy practicing,’’ Tyner said. “It was burning in there today, but it was a great way to come back, just getting back into shape.’’

Campbell said whether Tyner plays - he figures to be third string at best behind De'Anthony Thomas and Byron Marshall - depends on the "game's flow."

Also, Campbell said Tyner needs to remain healthy and show a retention of the playbook, something he doesn't foresee as a problem, calling Tyner "a smart kid.''

Tyner said the mental part of the game - learning the playbook, the terminology - was just as much of an adjustment as the size and speed of the players.

“My first time walking in - I felt like I was going back to high school as a freshman,’’ Tyner said. “I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know the system. I felt like every time I went into the offense I was screwing everything up. It took time for me to adjust.’’

Tyner said star running back De’Anthony Thomas has been a mentor, pulling him aside and walking him through plays.

“He has helped a lot,’’ Tyner said.

But he wasn’t there for Tyner when it came time for another of Oregon’s traditions: making the freshmen and newcomers sing at the team barbeque held during fall camp.

On the bus ride to the campground, Tyner tried to perform a cut from Trey Songz, but forgot the lyrics.

“I got booed,’’ Tyner said laughing.

Later, at the barbeque, he had to get up on stage and perform. That went better.